The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-05-26


dice than other more civilized but equally
disappointed matchmakers Likewise, dur
ing the following year, she made several more
foolish ventures, and lost heavily. In fact,
feverish desire to increase her store at almost
any risk seemed to possess her. At last it
was announced that she intended to reopen
the infelix Rockville hotel, and keep it
herself. Wild as this scheme appeared
in theory, when put into practical
operation there seemed to be some
chance of success. Much, doubtless, was
owing to her practical knowledge of hotel
keeping, but more to her rigid economy and
untiring industry. The mistress of Millions
she cooked, washed, waited on table, made
the beds and labored like common menial
Visitors were attracted by this novel specta-
Gle. The income of the house increased as
their respect for the hostess lessened. No
anecdote of her avarice was too extravagant
for current belief. 1t was even alleged that
she had been known to carry the luggage OF
guests to their rooms, that she might antici-
pate the usual porter's gratuity. She denied
herself the ordinary necessaries of life She
hotel was making money.
A few limited of insanity; others shook their
heads, and said a curse was entailed on the
property. 1t was believed, also, from her
appearance, that she could not long survive
this tax on her energies, and already there
was discussion as to the probable final dispo-
sition of her property.
1t was the peculiar fortune of Mr.. Jack
E[amlin to be able to set the world right on
this and other questions regarding her.
A stormy December evening had set i'll
when he CHANGED to be guest at the Rock
vile hotel. He had, during the past week,
been engaged in the prosecution of his noble
profession at Red Dog, and had, in the
graphic language OF a coadJutor, Hcleared out
the town, except his fare In the pockets of the
stage driver" The Red Dog Standard had
bewailed his departure in playful obituary
verse, beginning, Dearest Johnny, thou
hast left us," wherein the rhymes "bereft US"
and "deplore" carried vague allpsion to "a
thousand dollars more" A quiet content
ment naturally suffused his personality, and
he was more than usually lazy and deliberate
in his speech. At midnight, when he was
about to retire, he was a little surprised,
however, by tap on his door, followed by
the presence of Mistress Peg Mofat, heiress,
and landlady of Rockville hotel
Mr.. Hanltp, despite his previous defense of
Peg, had no liking for her, His fastidieus
taste rejected her uncomeliness; his habits of
thought and life were all antagonistic to
what he had heard of her niggardliness and
greed. As she stood there, i'll dirty calico
wrapper, still pedOlent with the days cuisine,
crimson with embarrassment and the recent
heat of the kitchen range, she certainly was
not an alluring apparition Happily for the
lateness of the hour, her loneliness and the
infelix reputation of the man before her, she
was at least 6 safe one And I fear the very
consciousness of this scarcely relieved her
embarrassment.
Il wanted to say few words to ye alone,
Nr. Hamlin," she began, taking an unoffered
seat on the end of his portmanteau, cor
shouldn't hev intruded. But it's the only
time I can ketch you, or you me; for I'm
down in the kitchen from sunup till now."
She stopped awkwardly, as If to listen to the
wind, which was rafting the windows, and
spreading Aim Of rain against the opaque
darkness without Then, smoothing her
wrapper over her knees, she remarked, as if
opening desultOry conversation:
"Thar's power of rain outside"
MIR, Hamlins only response to this mete-
geological observation was yawn, and pre-
liminary tug at his coat as he began to re-
move it.
Il thought ye couldn't mind dom me a
favor" continued Peg, with hard, awll-
ward laugh, "parhkly seein' ez folks allowed
you'd sorter bin friend O mine, and he'd
stood up for me at times when you hednt
any partikler call to do it. l heVn't," she
continued looking down on her lap, and
following with her finger and thumb a seam
of her gown-"I hewitt so many friends ez
slings IA kind word for me these times that l
disremember them" Her under lip quivered
up little here; and, after vainly hunting
for a forgotten handkerchief, she finally
lifted the hem of her gown, wiped her snub
nose upon it, but left the tears still in her
eyes as she raised them to the man.
Nh Hamlin, who had by this time divested
himself of his coat, stopped unbuttoning his
waistcoat, and looked at her.
eIike ez not thar'll be high water on the
North Fork, eff this rain keeps on, said Peg,
as if apologetically, looking toward the win.
dow
The other rain having ceased, Mr.. Hamlin
began to unbutton his waistcoat again.
II wanted to ask ye a favor about Mr.
about--Jack Folinsbee," began Peg again
hurriedly. "Hes ailin agin, and is mighty
low. And he's losin' a heap O money here
and thar, and mostly to you. You cleaned
him out of two thousand dollars last night
all he had.n
aWellw said the gambler coldly.
"Well, thought ez you WOE friend O
mine, I'd ask ye to let up little on him"
said Peg with an affected laugh. "You kin
do it. Don't let him play with ye'
mistress Margaret Moffat, said Jack with
lazy deliberation, taking off his watch and
beginning to wind it up, "ef you're that much
stuck after Jack Folinsbee, you kin keep him
off of me much easier than 1 kin. You're a
rich woman. Give him enough money to
break my bank, or break himself for good
and all; but don't keep him forlin round me
in hopes to make a raise. 1t don't pay, Mis-
tress Moffat-it don't paylr
A finer nature than Pegs would have mis-
understood or resented the gamblers slang
and the miserable truths that underlaid it.
But she comprehended him instantly, and sat
hopelessly silent
OFF you'll take my advice" continued Jack,
placing his watch and chain under his pillow
and quietly unloosing his cravat, you'll quit
this yer forlin', marry that chap and hand
over to him the money and the money maxim
that's killin' you. He'll get rid of it soon
enough, don't say this because expect to
git it; for when he's got that much of raise
he'll make break for Frisco, and lose it to
some fir t-class sport there. | don't say,
neither, that you maynt be in luck enough
to reform him. l don't say, neither-and it's
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